Archive for the ‘Birding’ Category

Catherine Creek Trail #4400 is a one mile paved trail with great views of the Columbia River on the south side of WA14. In the spring this is a premier location for Columbia Gorge Wildflowers and bird viewing. No flowers yesterday but we anxiously await the Grass Widow which according to my Instagram feed were in full bloom around the middle of February last year. We did see a few bald eagles, hawks, woodpeckers on this quiet winter day. Parking is on the north side of WA14 where you can pick up trails for longer hikes and more great wildflower and bird viewing.

You’ll have stunning Columbia River Gorge Views pretty much the whole trail. Interpretive signs guide you through open grasslands, vernal ponds and oak woodlands. Take a break on one of the many benches along the trail, one being a the overlook of Catherine Creek and Catherine Creek Falls.

Chasing Waterfalls and Waterfall Wednesday. With 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge alone, we’ve set out to find them all plus those in the nearby Mt Hood National Forest, Washington and beyond. And when we do we’ll share our finds with you, our guests, so you too can set out to Chase Waterfalls.

For me the return of the Tundra Swans to Mirror Lake in the Columbia River Gorge, marks the beginning of Winter.

Mirror Lake is at the foot of Crown Point, visible from Interstate 84 just west of the Rooster Rock exit. The Lake can host upwards of 100 Tundra Swans, although as of yesterday only a few had arrived from their Arctic tundra nesting grounds. The Scenic Colombia River Gorge is just one of Oregon’s 7 Wonders near the Old Parkdale Inn. The other being majestic Mt Hood.

Tundra Swans dine on plant material, slugs, snails, insects and crayfish, and typically weigh from 10 to 18 pounds, averaging about 53 inches in length. They mate for life and travel in family groups in roundtrip migrations of up to 3,725 miles.

We sure do! Our gardens are a flurry of avian activity! Sparrows, finches, blackbirds, chickadees…the list goes on. Our most colorful visitors so far this spring have been the Evening Grosbeaks. They are a beautiful bird, don’t you think? And we have had at least 50 feeding regularly at our many feeding stations.

The gardens of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast have been recognized as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Foundation. That is we provide feed, water, shelter and nesting provisions for the many species of birds that visit our gardens. One day last spring in just about a half hours time I identified 21 species of birds! I invite you to come sit in a secluded nook of our garden and watch the activities!